Phlox plant named ‘Barphspribluimp’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Phlox  plant named ‘Barphspribluimp’, characterized by its upright, outwardly spreading and mounding plant habit; vigorous growth habit; early and freely flowering habit; light violet blue-colored flowers with darker-colored centers; and good garden performance.

Botanical designation: Phlox subulata.

Cultivar denomination: ‘BARPHSPRIBLUIMP’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Phlox plant, botanically known as Phlox subulata and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘Barphspribluimp’.

The new Phlox plant is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Aalsmeer, The Netherlands. The objective of the breeding program was to create new freely-flowering Phlox plants with attractive flower color.

The new Phlox plant originated from a cross-pollination made by the Inventor in April, 2011 in Aalsmeer, The Netherlands, of a proprietary selection of Phlox subulata identified as code number SB-0099, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with a proprietary selection of Phlox subulata identified as code number SB007-000016-001, not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Phlox plant was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a single flowering plant from within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled environment in Aalsmeer, The Netherlands in April, 2012.

Asexual reproduction of the new Phlox plant by cuttings in a controlled environment in Aalsmeer, The Netherlands since June, 2012 has shown that the unique features of this new Phlox plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Phlox have not been observed under all possible combinations of environmental conditions and cultural practices. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditions such as temperature and light intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘Barphspribluimp’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘Barphspribluimp’ as a new and distinct Phlox plant:

-   -   1. Upright, outwardly spreading and mounding plant habit.     -   2. Vigorous growth habit.     -   3. Early and freely flowering habit.     -   4. Light violet blue-colored flowers with darker-colored         centers.     -   5. Good garden performance.

Plants of the new Phlox differ primarily from plants of the female parent selection in flower color as plants of the female parent selection have light pink-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Phlox differ primarily from plants of the male parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Phlox flower earlier than plants of the         male parent selection.     -   2. Plants of the new Phlox and the male parent selection differ         in flower color as flowers of plants of the male parent         selection have light blue-colored flowers with pale blue-colored         centers.     -   3. Plants of the new Phlox are more low temperature-tolerant         than plants of the male parent selection.

Plants of the new Phlox can be compared to plants of Phlox subulata ‘Emerald Cushion Blue’, not patented. In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Phlox and ‘Emerald Cushion Blue’ differ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Phlox are slightly smaller than plants of         ‘Emerald Cushion Blue’.     -   2. Plants of the new Phlox are more freely flowering than plants         of ‘Emerald Cushion Blue’.     -   3. Plants of the new Phlox and ‘Emerald Cushion Blue’ differ in         flower color as plants of ‘Emerald Cushion Blue’ have light         violet-colored flowers.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying colored photograph illustrates the overall appearance of the new Phlox plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photograph may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Phlox plant.

The photograph comprises a side perspective view of typical flowering plant of ‘Barphspribluimp’ grown in a container.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photograph and following observations, measurements and values describe plants grown during the spring in 13-cm containers in an outdoor nursery in Aalsmeer, The Netherlands and under cultural practices typical of commercial Phlox production. During the production of the plants, day temperatures averaged 14° C. and night temperatures averaged 5° C. Plants were pinched one time and were ten months old when the photograph and description were taken. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2001 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Phlox subulata ‘Barphspribluimp’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary selection of Phlox             subulata identified as code number SB-0099, not patented.         -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Proprietary selection of Phlox             subulata identified as code number SB007-000016-001, not             patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—By vegetative cuttings.         -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About 16 days at             temperatures about 26° C.         -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About three weeks at             temperatures about 23° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About 24 days             at temperatures about 23° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About four             weeks at temperatures about 18° C.         -   Root description.—Medium in thickness, fibrous; typically             white to light yellow in color, actual color of the roots is             dependent on substrate composition, water quality,             fertilizer type and formulation, substrate temperature and             physiological age of roots.         -   Rooting habit.—Moderately freely branching; medium density. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Herbaceous perennial typically grown             as a container and garden plant; upright, outwardly             spreading and mounding plant habit; vigorous growth habit.         -   Plant height.—About 7 cm.         -   Plant width (spread).—About 25 cm.         -   Lateral branches.—Length: About 11 cm. Internode length:             About 1 cm. Strength: Moderately strong. Aspect: Upright to             outwardly spreading. Texture: Pubescent. Color: Close to             145C; with development, color becoming closer to 153D. -   Leaf description:     -   -   Arrangement.—Opposite, simple; sessile.         -   Length.—About 1.8 cm.         -   Width.—About 2 mm.         -   Shape.—Lanceolate.         -   Apex.—Acute.         -   Base.—Truncate.         -   Margin.—Entire, ciliate.         -   Texture, upper and lower surfaces.—Smooth, glabrous.         -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate.         -   Color.—Developing leaves, upper and lower surfaces: Close to             143C. Fully expanded leaves, upper surface: Close to 141A;             venation, close to 144A to 144D. Fully expanded leaves,             lower surface: Close to 144A; venation, close to 144A to             144D. -   Flower description:     -   -   Flower type and flowering habit.—Single rotate and             salverform flowers arranged in compound terminal and lateral             panicles; flowers face mostly upright to outwardly; freely             flowering habit with about 318 flowers developing per plant.         -   Fragrance.—None detected.         -   Natural flowering season.—Plants begin flowering about 36             weeks after planting; plants begin flowering in April in The             Netherlands; flowers persistent.         -   Flower buds.—Height: About 1.4 cm. Diameter: About 3 mm.             Shape: Ovoid. Color: Close to 91B.         -   Inflorescence height.—About 6 cm.         -   Inflorescence diameter.—About 5 cm.         -   Flower diameter.—About 2.4 cm.         -   Flower depth.—About 1.4 cm.         -   Flower throat diameter.—About 2 mm.         -   Flower tube length.—About 1.4 cm.         -   Flower diameter, proximally.—About 1 mm.         -   Petals.—Quantity per flower: Typically five in a single             whorl; petals fused at the base into a narrow tube. Lobe             length: About 1.1 cm. Lobe width: About 9 mm. Lobe shape:             Obcordate. Lobe apex: Cordate. Lobe margin: Entire. Lobe             texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Throat             texture: Smooth, glabrous. Tube texture: Smooth, glabrous.             Color: When opening and fully opened, upper surface: Close             to 97C; towards the throat, close to 89A; venation, close to             97C. When opening and fully opened, lower surface: Close to             97C; venation, close to 97C. Throat: Close to 94B; venation,             close to 94B. Tube: Close to 94C; venation, close to 94C.         -   Sepals.—Quantity per flower: Typically five in a single             whorl, fused towards the base; calyx, campanulate. Length:             About 7 mm. Width: About 1 mm. Shape: Narrowly deltoid.             Apex: Acuminate. Margin: Entire. Texture, upper and lower             surfaces: Pubescent. Color: When opening and fully opened,             upper surface: Close to 137B. When opening and fully opened,             lower surface: Close to 137A.         -   Peduncles.—Length: About 7 cm. Diameter: About 1 mm.             Strength: Strong. Texture: Pubescent. Color: Close to 144C.         -   Pedicels.—Length: About 1 cm. Diameter: About 1 mm.             Strength: Moderately strong. Texture: Pubescent. Color:             Close to 144A.         -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity per flower: Typically             five. Filament length: About 1 mm. Filament color: Close to             155C. Anther length: About 1 mm. Anther color: Close to 17A.             Pollen amount: Abundant. Pollen color: Close to 23A.             Pistils: Quantity per flower: One. Pistil length: About             1.1 cm. Stigma shape: Cleft, three-parted. Stigma color:             Close to 14C. Style length: About 1 cm. Style color: Close             to 1D. Ovary color: Close to 141B.         -   Seeds and fruits.—Seed and fruit development have not been             observed on plants of the new Phlox. -   Garden performance: Plants of the new Phlox have been observed to     have good garden performance and tolerate rain, wind and frost. -   Disease & pest resistance: Plants of the new Phlox have been     observed to be relatively tolerant to Powdery Mildew; plants of the     new Phlox have not been observed to be resistant to pests and other     pathogens common to Phlox plants. 

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Phlox plant named ‘Barphspribluimp’ as illustrated and described. 